Foldable table frame and convertible cover therefor



FGLDABLE TABLE FRAME AND CONVERTIBLE COVER THEREFOR Filfid May 31. 1961 J. T. HAsLER March 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

JOHN 7'. HA 5 L E F? W March 5, 1963 FOLDABLE Filed May 31, 1961 J. T. HASLER 3,079,875

TABLE FRAME AND CONVERTIBLE COVER THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9

FIG. ll

3! \29 INVENTOR, -29

JOHN 7T HASLER Fla? BY Patented Mar. 5, 1963 3,979,875 FGLDABLE TAELE FRAME AND CGNVERTELE CGVER THEREFOR John T. Hasler, 335 Sea Spray Ava, Palm Beach, Fia- Filed May 31, 1961, Ser. No. 113,818 Claims. (Cl. ltl838) This invention relates to certain useful improvements in tables panticularly of the type which are utilized for card tables and similar usages in the general manner well known. The invention comprises a foldable frame for supporting the table including the legs by which the table is supported at an elevated position above the floor or other supporting surface and a convertible cover which may be extended into a position to overlie the table frame and comprise thereby a table top, together with means for attaching the cover in position relative to the frame for such table type usages, and which cover may be folded into a compacted condition in which it comprises a casing which is adapted to house the table frame when the table frame has been folded away from supporting position into storage position.

Many prior attempts have been made at providing foldable tables for various usages. None has, however, achieved the result of the present device in which a table which may be extended into a use position, in which the cover serves as a'table top and overlies and is connected with a supporting frame, may be removed therefrom, and the cover may be folded to comprise a casing, with the frame and supports of the table being foldable into a compacted device which may be stored within the casing in order to economize on space of storage as well as to provide for an efliciency of movement of the device to and from desired positions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a table structure having a foldable table frame and a cover removably attachable to the table frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a structure in which the table top is comprised of a num ber of slat elements hingedly connected together whereby the table top may be folded from extended table top condition into a compacted condition in which the table top provides a housing centrally open for the reception of other devices such as the folded table frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which a removable table top cover is mounted upon a table frame and includes means engaging means carried by the table frame for limiting relative movement of the cover relative to the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table in which a frame is comprised of a plurality of rail members, each of channel conformation with the rail members being hingedly connected one to the other and in which the frame is provided with a plurality of legs which are pivotedly connected respectively to the rails in order to be extended downwardly therefrom into a table supporting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a structure in vwhich the legs are housed in closed condition within the body of the rail members and which include means restraining the legs from separating away from the rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the rail members comprise a substantially quadrilateral frame in extended condition, with diagonally opposite corners of the frame being hingedly interconnected about hinges which are disposed for hinging upon a substantially horizontal axis and the opposite pair of corners of the rail members are interconnected by hinges having substantially vertically disposed axes; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and efficiency of table constructions and more particularly of table constructions comprising collapsible and foldable elements.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a perspective view of the elements of the present invention in completely collapsed and folded condition for storage, showing the cover folded into casing condition and the frame being inserted the-rein in telescop-ic relationship.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the framework, including the rails and the legs, in the folded condition in which it is housed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an inverted plan view of the frame in partly extended condition after removal from the casing.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary inverted plan view on an enlarged scale illustrating details of the device.

FIG. 5 is a view on the scale of FIG. 1 illustrating the cover in a partly extended condition.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one corner of the cover in extended condition.

FIG. 7 is a similarly enlarged plan view of one corner of the supporting framework.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the lines VIHVHI of FIGS. 6 and 7 and illustrating details of the relationship of the corner parts.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a table with the frame of the present invention erected and the cover of the present invention mounted thereon with the legs being broken out for purposes of conservation of space.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the device as shown in FIG. 9 with certain parts being separated for purposes of illustration; and

FIG. 11 is an inverted plan view of the framework of the present invention in extended supporting condition together with the cover secured thereto, with the cover and the rails of the device being broken out for conservation of space in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present invention includes a cover member 11 which is foldable from and .to a folded casing condition, such as is shown in FIG. 1, and in which the cover member when so folded is adapted to house the remaining elements of the structure, to and from an extended table top condition such as is shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

In its preferred embodiment cover 11 comprises a plurality of slat members which are hingedly interconnected for folding movement to and from the respective positions described on the cover member. Preferably the slat members comprise a plurality of slats of widths which increase from end to end of the cover, including a narrow cover slat 11A, 9. next adjacent and slightly Wider slat member 11B and additional slat members of increasing width particularly when viewed from left to right of FIG. 9, these slat members being designated as. 11C, 11]), 11E, 11F, 11G and 11H, the width of the final slat 11H being approximately the same as the width of slat 116 but of sufficient width to accommodate the folding of the device into a uniform casing in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each of slats along its edge or edges adjacent to the next adjacent slat is beveled as at 13 to accommodate.

V the folding of the slats relative to each other into the casing form of rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 1, with the bevels 13 being formed at substantially 45 degrees to the respective surfaces of the slats, and the adjacent and adjoining bevels thus forming an undercut groove of an angularity of substantially degrees between the respectively adjacent slats when the cover is 3 extended. The-entirety of cover member 11 is overlaid by a suitable sheet of flexible and foldable material 15 which is extended from edge to edge and side to side of cover member 11.

Sheet 15 provides, whenthe cover member is'extend'ed into table top condition, a smooth upper surface therefor when it is mounted upon the table frame hereinafter described. Sheet 15 additionally provides means for interconnecting the respective slats with each other in order rthat they may be folded relative to 'each' other in the changing of the condition of the cover member from the casing position shown inFIG. 1 to the extended table top position shovl-ii in FIG. '9. The end slats 11 A and 1111 of cover 11, at and adjacent to their opposite ends and edges are provided with fastener means for connection of the cover to the frame when erected. These fastener means may comprise -flexible tabs 17, which are preferably of elastic material and which, at their free ends remote from the slats arc provided with means for fastening to the frame, such as the "snap fastener elements 19 adapted -to mate with and-'snappingly engage additional s'n'a-p elements 21 which are carried by the frame. Snap elements 21 are; respectively fixed to the rail members. which in extended condition oft-he table frame comprise the peripheral support upon which cover 11, is mounted. v p

The supporting frame of'the devicecomprise's, aiplui-ality er rail members 23, 24, 25 and 26; Each of the rail members is formed of a channel member with the web of the channel beingdisposed uppermost when the frame is ex'tended'for table top support. The rail members are arranged in, such supporting condition of the frame so that one end of each rail abuts against the side of its adjacent rail 'clo'se to the end thereof and the other end of each rail is thus abutted at its side by its next 'adja; cent rail. The rails are hingedly. interconnected for folding to and from ext-ending support position.

Thus rail 23 at one end overlaps the end or rail 24 so that in the, extended condition the end of rail 24 abuts against the inner side of rail 23; These rails 23, 24 are hingedly connected at a corner of the frame by a hinge 28' which includes leaves 29, one leaf 29 being mounted on and connected to the web of rail'23 and the other leaf 29 being mounted on and connected to the web of rail 24. The leaves '29 are hingedly interconnected by a hinge pin 31 which diagonally intersects the corner made between rails 23, 24.

Diagor'ially'v opposite the corner between rails 23, 24 is acorner between rails 25, 26, Rail 25 'overlaps the 7 end of rail 26 in the manner similar to that just described with reference to rails 23, 24, so that the end of rail 26 abuts against the side of rail 25. Rails25, 26 are hingedly interconnected by another hinge 28 similar to, that just described, having leaves 29, one leaf 29 being connected [to the web of rail 25 and the other leaf 29 being connected to the web of rail 26, and. the leaves being hing d y' in erconnected by a pivot pin 31 which is diagonally disposed relative to the corner between the members.

The disposition of hinge pins 31 in extended condition of the frame is substantially horizontal, and the pins are substantially in alignment alonga common horizontal axis diagonal of the frame to provide for folding of the frame elements about the horizontal axis in the movement of the frame to and from folded condition from and. to extended condition.

The opposite end of rail 23 is overlapped by the other end of rail 26 so that the end of rail 23 abuts against the side of rail 26 Providing another corner for the frame. These rails 23, 26, are hingedly interconnected by a hinge 33!, the, hinge, 33 being provided with leaves 35 with a one leaf 35 being connected to one of the flanges of rail 23, and. the other leaf 35 being connected to the inner fiangeof rail 26 inwardly from the end of rail 26. Leaves 35 are interconnected by a hinge pin 37 vertically disposed relative to the rail members when the frame is in extended condition and providing for hinging of the rail members about a vertical axis.

Similarly rails 24 and 25 are interconnected. The 7 A similar plurality of legs 39 are respectively asso ciated with the rail members. Each of legs 39 is preferablyformed of tubular material, being here shown as of square cross section, although it will be understood that other'forms of tubular leg members and other forms of leg members may be utilized herein without departing from the present invention. Each leg 39 is of a length slightly less than the length of its associated rail member and is of a cross sectional dimensionless than the cross sectional dimension of the channel of the respective rail members. In this manner therespe'ctive legs may be housed within the respective rail members when the device is foldedjaway from use condition and maybe readily removed therefrom in order to project. the legs into a supporting position. 7

One leg 39 is provided for association with each of the rail members 23, 24, 25, 26, and each leg 39 is pivoted to its associated rail member in the end section of the rail. member which overlaps the end of the adjacent rail member, being pivotedly connected there as by pivot pins 41, thus providing for folding movement of the legs relative to the rails, to and from housed condition, from and to supporting condition. The legs are respectively spaced awa-yfrom the inner flange of the rails as by suitable spacers 43. 7

Each of the legs is further interconnected with is associated rail by a toggle type brace 45 including arms respectivelypivoted toleg and rail and centrally intercon nected, which inextended supporting position of the legs moves the arms of the toggle brace into substantial alignment about, a central pivot diagonally across the intersection of leg and" rail, was to provide for bracing of the leg against accidental unfolding and further to provide against over travel of the leg beyond position perpendicular to its related rail. Upon folding of the device the toggle brace may be broken or bent about itsjoint and the leg movedupwardly into the channel of its associated rail with the toggle brace, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, being folded and lying between the leg and the inner flange of the rail in a convenient housed posi tion. When the leg is thus folded into a position housed within its related fail the folded toggle brace 45 serves as a snug fitting member to diminish separation of the leg from the rail. y

In addition, each of the legs is-provided with a foot 47 and preferably these feet 47 are of a dimension closely to fit within the interior ofthe channel of the respective associated rails so as snugly to engage against the inner and outer flanges of the rails at the end of the leg as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 providing an additional means for retaining the leg housed within the rail when the device has been folded. V

In the use of the device, it may be taken from storage position such as is shown in FIG. 1, The supporting framework in the condition shown in FIG. 2 may beremovedfrorn, the casing formed from cover member 11, ready for erection. The folded framework of FIG. 2 is first unfolded about the, hinges 33 into the position shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the device may be unfolded about the horizontal hinge pins of hinges28 into a sub.- stan't'ially rectangular framework. Having been unfolded: into that position the respective overlapping ends of the rails 23, 24, 25, 26 abut against the ends of their next was-7s adjacent rails providingfor a limit to further movement against unfoldingand further the leaves of the hinges cooperate therewith. With the framework of the rails thus unfolded, the respective legs 39 may be removed and extended into supporting position about their respective pivots 41 from their associated rails. At the same time, the toggle braces 45 are extended into the condition as shown for example in FIG. 7 bracing the legs against folding back into the frames and providing for support of the device. With the stable table framework thus extended, cover 11 may be unfolded into extended condition and seated upon the webs of rails 23, 24', 25, 26.

Inasmuch as each of the hinges '28 is mounted upon the now uppermost surface of the adjacent corners of the rails, with the leaves 29 and hinge pin 31 extended thereabove, cover 11 is undercut adjacent diagonally opposite corners, the undercuts respectively providing flats 49 each terminating in a shoulder 51, and a diagonally disposed groove 53, flats 49 being adapted, to fit over hinge leaves29 with the distal edges of the hinge leaves abutting against shoulders 51 and groove 53 being adapted to receive hinge pin 31. In this manner cover 11 is adapted to fit over the upwardly mounted hinges to interengage therewith by virtue of the flats, shoulders and grooves so as to 'further' inhibit against relative movement of the cover 11 with respect to the framework of the table.

It will be understood that in the present embodiment as shownthe grooves and flats are formed respectively at one corner of-therespective end slats 11A and 11H. However, for convenience of mounting and if so desired additional and similar flats and grooves may be formed at the opposite ends of these respective end slats in order that the matter of fitting of the cover 11 onto the table frame may be more convenient.

In addition, when cover 11 has been extended and when the flats and grooves of diagonally opposite corners of the cover have been fitted over hinges 28, tabs 17 are then to be attached to the framework by the interengagement of snap elements 19 of the tabs with snap elements 21 on the frame. In this manner it will be seen that the cover overlies the framework, assists in rigiditying the framework and is attached thereto in a manner which will deter any slippage of the cover relative to the framework.

It further will be seen that when it is desired to dismount the table, the tabs 17 need only be simply detached from the snap elements 21 of the frame, the cover removed therefrom and the framework folded into the compacted condition heretofore described, legs 3? being respectively folded into their associated rails with the toggle braces being folded thereinto and housed therein and with the feet 47 of the legs engaging the flanges of the rail members. Thereafter, the rail members are folded about hinges 28 into a condition as substantially shown in FIG. 3 and subsequently folded about the hinges 33 into the condition shown in FIG. 2. After this folding has been accomplished, cover 11 is folded into the condition shown in FIG. 1 and the folded and collapsed framework may then be inserted into the open central portion of the cover in its casing condition.

I claim:

1. In a table construction; a foldable support comprising a supporting framework which includes two pairs of rails and supporting legs pivoted to said rails, each said rail being a channel member having its inner side adjacent one end thereof overlapping and abutting the end of a next adjacent rail, and having its other end abutted by an overlapping end portion of the inner side of another adjacent rail when said framework is extended, said overlapping and abutting ends defining the corners of said framework, said rails hingedly interconnected at said corners for folding to and from extended condition in which said framework is substantially rectangular from and to folded condition in which said rails lie alongside each other, the hinge connections of said rails at one pair of diagonally opposite corners of said framework in extended condition including substantially horizontally disposed hinge axes in axial alinement diagonally across said framework, the hinge connections of said rails at the other pair of diagonally opposite corners including substantially vertically disposed hinge axes, said supporting legs being respectively pivoted to the overlapping end portions of the respective rails for swinging to and from a supporting position extending perpendicularly from said rails from and to a folded position in which each leg is housed within the channel of the rail to which it is pivoted, each leg including a foot of a size snugly fitting the interior of the channel and deterring movement of the leg away from the channel; and a cover comprising a plurality of slats successively increasing in width respectively from one edge of the cover toward the other edge of the cover, a flexible sheet overlying and fastened to said slats foldabiy interconnecting said slats for folding of said cover from and to an extended condition in which said slats form a flat surface to and from a casing condition in which said slats form a centrally open casing, said cover supported on said framework in said extended condition of said cover and of said framework, means detachably connecting said extended cover to said extended framework, said cover in said casing condition housing said framework in said folded condition.

2. In a table construction; a foldable support comprising a supporting framework which includes two pairs of rails and supporting legs pivoted to said rails, each said rail being a channel member having its inner side adjacent one end thereof overlapping and abutting the end of a next adjacent rail, and having its other end abutted by an overlapping end portion of the inner side of another adjacent rail when said framework is extended, said overlapping and abutting ends defining the corners of said framework, said rails hingedly interconnected at said corners for folding to and from extended condition 'in which said framework is substantially rectangular from and to folded condition in which said rails lie alongside each other, the hinge connections of said rails at one pair of diagonally opposite corners of said framework in extended condition including substantially horizontally disposed hinge axes in axial alinement diagonally across said framework, the hinge connections of said rails at the other pair of diagonally opposite corners including substantially vertically disposed hinge axes, said supporting legs being respectively pivoted to the overlapping end portions of the respective rails for swinging to and from a supporting position extending perpendicularly from said rails from and to a folded position in which each leg is housed within the channel of the rail to which it is pivoted, each leg including a foot of a size snugly fitting the interior of the channel and deterring movement of the leg away from the channel; and a cover supported on said framework in said extended condition of said framework, means dotachably connecting said cover to said extended framework.

3. In a table construction, a foldable support comprising a supporting framework which includes two pairs of rails and supporting legs pivoted to said rails, each said rail being a channel member having its inner side adjacent one end thereof overlapping and abutting the end of a next adjacent rail, and having its other end abutted by an overlapping end portion of the inner side of another adacent rail when said framework is extended, said overlapping and abutting ends defining the corners of said framework, said rails hingedly interconnected at said corners for folding to and from extended condition in which said framework is substantially rectangular from and to folded condition in which said rails lie alongside each other, the hinge connections of said rails at one pair of diagonally opposite corners of said framework in extended condition including substantially horizontally disposed hinge axes in axial alinement diagonally across said framework, the hinge connections of said rails at the onally ofapbsit C 5. In a table qonstructior i; a fol 

1. IN A TABLE CONSTRUCTION; A FOLDABLE SUPPORT COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK WHICH INCLUDES TWO PAIRS OF RAILS AND SUPPORTING LEGS PIVOTED TO SAID RAILS, EACH SAID RAIL BEING A CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING ITS INNER SIDE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF OVERLAPPING AND ABUTTING THE END OF A NEXT ADJACENT RAIL, AND HAVING ITS OTHER END ABUTTED BY AN OVERLAPPING END PORTION OF THE INNER SIDE OF ANOTHER ADJACENT RAIL WHEN SAID FRAMEWORK IS EXTENDED, SAID OVERLAPPING AND ABUTTING ENDS DEFINING THE CORNERS OF SAID FRAMEWORK, SAID RAILS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AT SAID CORNERS FOR FOLDING TO AND FROM EXTENDED CONDITION IN WHICH SAID FRAMEWORK IS SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FROM AND TO FOLDED CONDITION IN WHICH SAID RAILS LIE ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER, THE HINGE CONNECTIONS OF SAID RAILS AT ONE PAIR OF DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNERS OF SAID FRAMEWORK IN EXTENDED CONDITION INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED HINGE AXES IN AXIAL ALINEMENT DIAGONALLY ACROSS SAID FRAMEWORK, THE HINGE CONNECTIONS OF SAID RAILS AT THE OTHER PAIR OF DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNERS INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED HINGE AXES, SAID SUPPORTING LEGS BEING RESPECTIVELY PIVOTED TO THE OVERLAPPING END 